Books Published between January and June 2026
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
We are excited to share all the books we could find that were written or illustrated by Pacific Islander creators and published between January and June 2026. Direct links to buy the books are below. Please also request these books at your local libraries and bookstores.
If we are missing any books, please reach out to us so we can add them. If you are a Pacific Islander creator with a book coming out soon, please let us know!
CHILDREN'S BOOKS
Board Books
Matariki by Kitty Brown (Māori) and Kirsten Parkinson (Māori)
Pūpū Hinuhinu written by Aunty Nona Beamer (Hawaiian), illustrated by Kendra Medeiros
I Lina'la' Lulai/The Life of Lulai written by Michael Lujan Bevacqua (CHamoru), illustrated by Jack Lujan Bevacqua (CHamoru) and Sumåhi Chan Bevacqua (CHamoru)
I Lepblon Atfabeto Ginen As Makåhna/Makåhna’s Alphabet Book written by Michael Lujan Bevacqua (CHamoru), illustrated by Sumåhi Chan Bevacqua (CHamoru)
Picture Books
Rere Atu ki Poronihia / Flight to Polynesia written by Tangaroa Paul (Māori), illustrated by Luca Tu’avao Walton (Tongan)
The Great Peskadot written by Cabrini Cruz Palomo (CHamoru), illustrated by Veronica Cruz (CHamoru)
Kupe and the Great Octopus of Muturangi by Mat Tait (Māori)
Ariā and the Monster Island: The Astromancer Trapped in Time written by Witi Ihimaera (Māori), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Māori)
Tanielu the Brave by Sandra Fatu Nu’u (Samoan)
I am Moana & I am Maui written by Kamalani Hurley (Hawaiian), illustrated by Lisa Vannini & Griselda Sastrawinata-Lemay
Chapter Books
The Missing Pencil Case by Jasmin McGaughey (Torres Strait Islander) and Jade Goodwin
Mary Fowler: Mary’s Game, with Jasmin McGaughey (Torres Strait Islander), illustrated by Cate James
Children's Non-Fiction
Sauniga o le ‘Ava Samoa: The 'Ava Ceremony of Samoa, by Tauanu’u Perenise Tapu Sitagata (Samoan), illustrated by Ani Huia Ligaliga (Māori)
Middle-Grade
The Shark Prince by Malia Maunakea (Hawaiian)
Ana & Frog Search for Minty the Missing Horse by Shelley Burne-Field (Samoan Māori), illustrated by Story Hemi-Morehouse (Māori)
No One Gets Left Behind (Disney’s Twisted Tales series) by Keala Kendall (Hawaiian)
Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove by Kenneth Chapman (Samoan)
Young Adult
That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall (Hawaiian)
An Expanse of Blue by Kaua Māhoe Adams (Hawaiian)
Whispers of an Island Heart by Keanna Polevia
GENERAL FICTION
Reaper by Vanda Symon (Fijian)
Whidbey by T Kira Madden (Kanaka ‘Ōiwi)
The Other Catherine by Lauren Keenan (Māori)
The Killing Spell by Shay Kauwe (Hawaiian)
The Obake Code by Makana Yamamoto (Hawaiian)
Hawai’i Rage by Tori Eldridge (Hawaiian)
Banjara by Shana Chandra (Indo-Fijian)
The Gambler by J. P. Pomare (Māori)
Waking in a Sea of Dreams by Lurline Wailana McGregor (Hawaiian)
Child of Old Age by Richard Napam (Papua New Guinean)
Play
Aloha Kaua by Noalani Helelā (Hawaiian)
Poetry
Chamoritta Song by Danielle P. Williams (Chamorro)
Pepeha Portal by Ariana Tikao (Māori)
Hungus by Amber Esau (Samoan, Māori)
Kupu Whenua by Hana Buchanan (Māori)
Symphony of Struggle: The Blackman’s Lament and Other Poems by Jackie K. Nomane (Papua New Guinean)
Short Story Collection
The Bird in the Bird Dance by Russell Soaba (Papua New Guinean)
Anthology
Panonosi by Julie Mota Kondi (Papua New Guinean)
NON-FICTION
Whiti Ora by Mason Durie (Māori)
W Is For Wahine Toa by Qiane Matata-Sipu (Māori Cook Islander), illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White (Māori)
A Fire in the Belly of Hineāmaru by Melinda Webber (Māori) and Te Kapua O’Connor (Māori)
Te Kaikaukau: The Swimmer by Witi Ihimaera (Māori)
Ngā Kākahu Māori o Mua by Hirini Moko Mead (Māori)
Reo Ora: A Māori Language Course for Beginner Learners - Ko Te Pū Level One and Ko Te More Level Two by Rapata Wiri (Māori)
Samoan Made Simple by Jason Tiatia (Samoan)
Be Brave: The Life of a Pacific Correspondent by Barbara Dreaver (Banaban)
Vā Moana: Space and Relationality in Pacific Thought and Identity, edited by Albert L. Refiti (Samoan), A.-Chr. Engels-Schwarzpaul, Lana Lopesi (Samoan), Billie Lythberg, Arielle Walker (Māori), Emily Parr (Māori)
Moana: The Official Cookbook - Pacific Recipes Inspired by Motonui, by Monique Fiso (Samoan, Māori) and Katie Monteith
Ngāti Kuia: He Pūtake, Hei Pakiaka Ora, A History, by Madi Williams (Māori)
Aotearoa in Bloom by Rachel Clare and Tryphena Cracknell (Māori)
Ngākaurua: My experience of cancer, identity and racism in Aotearoa by Jacquie Kidd (Māori)
Te Akaaka Rauwhero: Te Rākau Matarua a Tū-mata-uenga by Haturini McGarvey (Māori)
Te Tiriti, Equality and the Future of New Zealand Democracy by Dominic O'Sullivan (Māori)
Journey Between Words: A Memoir of Discovery, Identity, and Cross-Cultural Transformation by Betty Wakia (Papua New Guinean)
Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in the Time of Collapse by Norma Kawelokū Wong (Hawaiian)
Note: The ethnicities stated on this blog post were from internet sources where the creators self-identified. Only Pacific Islander ethnicities were included.v
